Charter schools in the United States are primary or secondary schools that receive public money (and like other schools, may also receive private donations) but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter. Charter schools are opened and attended by choice.While charter schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not allowed to charge tuition. Where enrollment in a charter school is oversubscribed, admission is frequently allocated by lottery-based admissions. In a 2008 survey of charter schools, 59% of the schools reported that they had a waiting list, averaging 198 students.[Some charter schools provide a curriculum that specializes in a certain field — e.g., arts and mathematics. Others attempt to provide a better and more efficient general education than nearby public schools. Some charter schools are founded by teachers, parents, or activists who feel restricted by traditional public schools. State-authorized charters (schools not chartered by local school districts) are often established by non-profit groups, universities, and some government entities. Additionally, school districts sometimes permit corporations to manage chains of charter schools. The schools themselves are still non-profit, in the same way that public schools may be managed by a for-profit corporation. It does not change the status of the school. In the United States, though the percentage of students educated in charter schools varies by school district, only in the New Orleans Public Schools system are the majority of children educated within independent public charter schools.(from Wikipedia)
History
The charter school idea in the United States was originated by Ray Budde, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and embraced by Albert Shanker, President of the American Federation of Teachers, in 1988 when he called for the reform of the public schools by establishing "charter schools" or "schools of choice". At the time, a few schools already existed that were not called charter schools but embodied some of their principles, such as H-B Woodlawn. As originally conceived, the ideal model of a charter school was as a legally and financially autonomous public school (without tuition, religious affiliation, or selective student admissions) that would operate much like a private business—free from many state laws and district regulations, and accountable more for student outcomes rather than for processes or inputs (such as Carnegie Units and teacher certification requirements). Minnesota was the first state to pass a charter school law in 1991. California was second, in 1992. As of 2009, 41 states and the District of Columbia have charter school laws. (from Wikipedia)
This is a commercial for a charter school.
Disadvantages of Charter Schools
The charter school movement is growing the United States, and although charter schools are not part of the education landscape in Alabama yet, there is pressure to allow them here soon. It seems to me that we often hear only about the advantages of charter schools, so I have decided to explore actual and possible disadvantages of charter schools as compared to the public school system.
Do Those Teaching In Charter Schools Have To Be Certified Teachers?
State certification requirements for public charter school teachers vary. Some states require them to have the same teacher certification and qualifications as other public school teachers, while other states have more flexible requirements. For example, some states may not require teacher certification for experienced professionals with expertise in a particular field or for those teaching subjects that aren't considered core academic subjects.
Even if teacher certification is not required, it still may be to your advantage. For instance, certification can help you negotiate a higher charter school teacher salary. Several states require certification for a certain percentage of teachers at a charter school. In those cases, being certified can give you an advantage over other applicants.
Many states allow non-certified persons to teach without out a teacher certification. Of the 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, that have charter schools, most do require teacher certification. Teacher certification is related to the particular charter of the particular school.States which allow non certified teachers in CHARTER SCHOOLS do have certain stipulations, however. In Illinois, for example, charter schools may employ non-certified teachers if they have a bachelor's degree, five years' experience in the area of degree, a passing score on state teacher tests and evidence of professional growth. Mentoring must be provided to uncertified teachers. Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, at least 50% of the individuals employed in instructional positions by a charter school in Chicago established after April 16, 2003, shall hold teaching certificates and 75% of the individuals employed in instructional positions by a charter school in Chicago established before April 16, 2003, shall hold teaching certificates. Other states not requiring certification have similar stipulations. (Education Commission of the States.)
Does Certification Matter?
Frequently, the question of certification and "does it really matter" is directed toward charter schools. According to a study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, it was determined that “New teachers who are certified do not produce greater student gains than new teachers who are not certified.” The report further states that "A preponderance of evidence now suggests that college of education degrees really don’t lead to better teaching in most cases." Importantly, the report states that, "Two recent studies suggest that a few years of experience helps, but that teacher effectiveness eventually starts to decline — a phenomenon ascribed to “burnout.” Other key factors associated with high-quality teaching are verbal ability and having a college degree in the subject being taught.
Attrition and Certification
A study by Miron and Applegate examined many factors regarding attrition, or predictors, related to teacher attrition. Major findings include the following: • The single background characteristic that strongly predicted teacher attrition was age: younger teachers in charter schools are more likely to leave than older teachers. No significant attrition differences appeared between males and females or for African-American teachers. • Another strong predictor was grade level taught, with attrition rates being highest in the upper grades, especially grades 6, 7, 10, and 11. Special education teachers were only slightly more likely to leave charter schools than regular education teachers. • Among teacher qualification variables, the best predictors were “years of experience” and “years at current school.” Teachers with limited experience were significantly more likely to leave their charter schools. (It is presumed that many of these inexperienced teachers moved to teaching jobs in other schools.). • Certification was also significant. Attrition was higher for noncertified teachers and for teachers who were teaching outside their certification areas; this situation may be related to the No Child Left Behind act’s pressure for ensuring teaching staff meet its definition of “highly qualified.”
Teacher Attrition in Charter Schools
• Teachers with higher levels of formal education were more likely to stay, although this factor wasn’t strongly predictive when controls for other variables were applied. • Other strong and significant factors included teachers’ relative satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the school’s: 1) mission, 2) perceived ability to attain the mission, and 3) administration and governance. Generally, teachers who left were also routinely less satisfied with: curriculum and instruction; resources and facilities; and salary and benefits. It appeared that teachers who were not satisfied were leaving or were being asked to leave. http://greatlakescenter.org
Do Charter Schools Actually Perform Better Than Other Schools?
The first thing that anyone wants to know about charter schools is do they work? Are they better at educating children, particularly in low-income communities, than the public schools that are already there? The truth is that numerous studies have been conducted on this topic, and there is not a consensus on the efficacy of charter schools versus traditional schools. The NCSPE states that "Available evidence on student achievement in charter schools shows a mixed pattern of results. However, no evidence has convincingly demonstrated that charter schools offer superior results to traditional public schools." There are so many factors that go into the success of a school and each charter school operates in its own unique way.
Proponents of charter schools state that they result in more innovation and greater efficiency because they are free from compliance with complicated government regulations and interference from government officials. Proponents also state that because charters are in competition for students and funding they have more motivation to succeed. Charter school certainly do receive high amounts of funding from private organizations and corporations, and the popular logic states that these entities will discontinue funding to underperforming charter schools.
How Are Charter Schools Funded?
The funding of charter schools can differ from state to state, however their funding is similar to that of public schools. Charter schools, like public schools, receive funding based on how many students are enrolled in the school. However, with respect to the total funds allocated, charter schools do not receive the same level of funding as public schools. More specifically:
On average nationwide, charter schools receive 61% of the funds allocated to their public school counterparts.
In many states, charter schools must negotiate their funding as a part of their charter contract. Charter schools are expected to make up any fiscal deficits through grants and private donations.
Unlike public schools, most start-up charter schools cannot obtain funding to secure or construct a building.
The education budget is calculated based on the number of students. Education money is not simply divided equally between the total number of schools.
When a student leaves a public school to attend a charter school, the money allocated for that child's education follows them to the charter school.
The brick and mortar expense of the charter school facility is shouldered by the charter school itself. The money does not come from the education budget.
Charter schools are allowed to solicit additional funding from private sources.
In light of these facts, there seems to be no negative impact on education funding from the incorporation of charter schools into the system. However, there is one caveat. The argument is dependent on the education budget increasing as the number of students increase. If the student population were to increase without a proportional increase in the education budget, the system would degrade over time and fears regarding degredation of the system would become a reality. In such a scenerio, the public schools would be the biggest losers due to the simple fact that we are creating a new system that is very similar to the old system. The unspoken reality seems to be that many charter schools, by their very nature, are more independent and affluent. While this is not inherently bad, it certainly lends itself towards more of the same with respect to a quality education being dependent on the wealth of a community. Whether the wealth comes from property taxes or private donations, the end result is the same. Students from wealthier communities receive a good education, while students from poorer communities lag behind.
Do charter schools take much needed money from the public school system?
Charter schools are public schools. They are not allowed to charge tuition. Charter schools must accept students on a first come, first serve basis. Due to their popularity, some states have implemented a lottery system. When a child leaves the public school system and begins attending a charter school, the money allocated for that child's education follows them to the the charter school. At first glance, this seems in direct conflict with the fact that charter schools receive on average 39% less funding than public schools. However, the difference lies in the fact that charter schools have more autonomy than public schools with respect to many federal rules and regulations. Charter schools are not required to devote as much funding towards special education, student support services, transportation, or nutrition. In addition, charter schools, unlike public schools, are able to seek additional funding from private donations, grants, and foundations.
Why Choose a Charter School?
Teachers and students choose the school. The school doesn't have as many rules and regulations as a public school. Students and teachers help make the decisions towards their education process. In order to keep their charter, they must uphold the standards set by the sponsors.
charter.jpg
Why Choose Charter schools:
1. Increase opportunities for learning and access to quality education for all students
2.Create choice for parents and students within the public school system
3. Provide a system of accountability for results in public education
4. Encourage innovative teaching practices
5. Create new professional opportunities for teachers
6. Encourage community and parent involvement in public education
7. Leverage improved public education broadly
PROs
CONs
Charter schools provide families with public school choice options. Parents will have the ability to choose the school best suited for their child.
Charter schools, due to their small size and limited numbers, will provide only some families with public school choice options, thereby raising issues of fairness and equity.
Charter schools can act as laboratories of reform, identifying successful practices that could be replicated by traditional district public schools. Also, by waiving regulations in a limited number of schools, the most prohibitive policies can be identified and eliminated for all schools.
Successful reform models such as New American Schools and Core Knowledge have already been identified. Why not attempt these reforms in existing schools? If rules and regulations are so burdensome, they should be waived for all public schools.
Through school choice, competition within the public school system is created, pressuring school districts to reassess their educational practices.
Charter schools have an unfair advantage when competing against
public schools since they tend to be smaller and free from regulations. Charter schools have access to federal funds and other revenue sources.
Charters will lead to overall systemic reform through the pressure and competition of the choice mechanism.
Charters are too limited in scope to adequately pressure the entire public school system.
Charter schools, unlike traditional public schools, are held accountable. If charters do not perform, they are not renewed.
Charters are not accountable as they are freed from rules and regulations intended to ensure quality in public education.
Information compiled by: Bill Adams, Elizabeth Geller, TaNika Roberts, and Bill Somerall
Welcome to Music with Doc!
An exciting new adventure
An outlet for creativity
A way to share information with others
WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?
Charter schools in the United States are primary or secondary schools that receive public money (and like other schools, may also receive private donations) but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter. Charter schools are opened and attended by choice.While charter schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not allowed to charge tuition. Where enrollment in a charter school is oversubscribed, admission is frequently allocated by lottery-based admissions. In a 2008 survey of charter schools, 59% of the schools reported that they had a waiting list, averaging 198 students.[Some charter schools provide a curriculum that specializes in a certain field — e.g., arts and mathematics. Others attempt to provide a better and more efficient general education than nearby public schools. Some charter schools are founded by teachers, parents, or activists who feel restricted by traditional public schools. State-authorized charters (schools not chartered by local school districts) are often established by non-profit groups, universities, and some government entities. Additionally, school districts sometimes permit corporations to manage chains of charter schools. The schools themselves are still non-profit, in the same way that public schools may be managed by a for-profit corporation. It does not change the status of the school. In the United States, though the percentage of students educated in charter schools varies by school district, only in the New Orleans Public Schools system are the majority of children educated within independent public charter schools.(from Wikipedia)History
The charter school idea in the United States was originated by Ray Budde, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and embraced by Albert Shanker, President of the American Federation of Teachers, in 1988 when he called for the reform of the public schools by establishing "charter schools" or "schools of choice". At the time, a few schools already existed that were not called charter schools but embodied some of their principles, such as H-B Woodlawn. As originally conceived, the ideal model of a charter school was as a legally and financially autonomous public school (without tuition, religious affiliation, or selective student admissions) that would operate much like a private business—free from many state laws and district regulations, and accountable more for student outcomes rather than for processes or inputs (such as Carnegie Units and teacher certification requirements). Minnesota was the first state to pass a charter school law in 1991. California was second, in 1992. As of 2009, 41 states and the District of Columbia have charter school laws. (from Wikipedia)This is a commercial for a charter school.
Disadvantages of Charter Schools
The charter school movement is growing the United States, and although charter schools are not part of the education landscape in Alabama yet, there is pressure to allow them here soon. It seems to me that we often hear only about the advantages of charter schools, so I have decided to explore actual and possible disadvantages of charter schools as compared to the public school system.Information about Alabama Charter Schools
Do Those Teaching In Charter Schools Have To Be Certified Teachers?
State certification requirements for public charter school teachers vary. Some states require them to have the sameteacher certification and qualifications as other public school teachers, while other states have more flexible requirements. For example, some states may not require teacher certification for experienced professionals with expertise in a particular field or for those teaching subjects that aren't considered core academic subjects.
Even if teacher certification is not required, it still may be to your advantage. For instance, certification can help you negotiate a higher charter school teacher salary. Several states require certification for a certain percentage of teachers at a charter school. In those cases, being certified can give you an advantage over other applicants.
Many states allow non-certified persons to teach without out a teacher certification. Of the 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, that have charter schools, most do require teacher certification. Teacher certification is related to the particular charter of the particular school. States which allow non certified teachers in CHARTER SCHOOLS do have certain stipulations, however. In Illinois, for example, charter schools may employ non-certified teachers if they have a bachelor's degree, five years' experience in the area of degree, a passing score on state teacher tests and evidence of professional growth. Mentoring must be provided to uncertified teachers. Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, at least 50% of the individuals employed in instructional positions by a charter school in Chicago established after April 16, 2003, shall hold teaching certificates and 75% of the individuals employed in instructional positions by a charter school in Chicago established before April 16, 2003, shall hold teaching certificates. Other states not requiring certification have similar stipulations. (Education Commission of the States.)
Does Certification Matter?
Frequently, the question of certification and "does it really matter" is directed toward charter schools. According to a study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, it was determined that “New teachers who are certified do not produce greater student gains than new teachers who are not certified.” The report further states that "A preponderance of evidence now suggests that college of education degrees really don’t lead to better teaching in most cases." Importantly, the report states that, "Two recent studies suggest that a few years of experience helps, but that teacher effectiveness eventually starts to decline — a phenomenon ascribed to “burnout.” Other key factors associated with high-quality teaching are verbal ability and having a college degree in the subject being taught.Attrition and Certification
A study by Miron and Applegate examined many factors regarding attrition, or predictors, related to teacher attrition. Major findings include the following:• The single background characteristic that strongly predicted teacher attrition was age: younger teachers in charter schools are more likely to leave than older teachers. No significant attrition differences appeared between males and females or for African-American teachers.
• Another strong predictor was grade level taught, with attrition rates being highest in the upper grades, especially grades 6, 7, 10, and 11. Special education teachers were only slightly more likely to leave charter schools than regular education teachers.
• Among teacher qualification variables, the best predictors were “years of experience” and “years at current school.” Teachers with limited experience were significantly more likely to leave their charter schools. (It is presumed that many of these inexperienced teachers moved to teaching jobs in other schools.).
• Certification was also significant. Attrition was higher for noncertified teachers and for teachers who were teaching outside their certification areas; this situation may be related to the No Child Left Behind act’s pressure for ensuring teaching staff meet its definition of “highly qualified.”
Teacher Attrition in Charter Schools
• Teachers with higher levels of formal education were more likely to stay, although this factor wasn’t strongly predictive when controls for other variables were applied.• Other strong and significant factors included teachers’ relative satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the school’s: 1) mission, 2) perceived ability to attain the mission, and 3) administration and governance.
Generally, teachers who left were also routinely less satisfied with: curriculum and instruction; resources and facilities; and salary and benefits. It appeared that teachers who were not satisfied were leaving or were being asked to leave.
http://greatlakescenter.org
Do Charter Schools Actually Perform Better Than Other Schools?
The first thing that anyone wants to know about charter schools is do they work? Are they better at educating children, particularly in low-income communities, than the public schools that are already there? The truth is that numerous studies have been conducted on this topic, and there is not a consensus on the efficacy of charter schools versus traditional schools. The NCSPE states that "Available evidence on student achievement in charter schools shows a mixed pattern of results. However, no evidence has convincingly demonstrated that charter schools offer superior results to traditional public schools." There are so many factors that go into the success of a school and each charter school operates in its own unique way.Proponents of charter schools state that they result in more innovation and greater efficiency because they are free from compliance with complicated government regulations and interference from government officials. Proponents also state that because charters are in competition for students and funding they have more motivation to succeed. Charter school certainly do receive high amounts of funding from private organizations and corporations, and the popular logic states that these entities will discontinue funding to underperforming charter schools.
How Are Charter Schools Funded?
The funding of charter schools can differ from state to state, however their funding is similar to that of public schools. Charter schools, like public schools, receive funding based on how many students are enrolled in the school. However, with respect to the total funds allocated, charter schools do not receive the same level of funding as public schools. More specifically:In light of these facts, there seems to be no negative impact on education funding from the incorporation of charter schools into the system. However, there is one caveat. The argument is dependent on the education budget increasing as the number of students increase. If the student population were to increase without a proportional increase in the education budget, the system would degrade over time and fears regarding degredation of the system would become a reality. In such a scenerio, the public schools would be the biggest losers due to the simple fact that we are creating a new system that is very similar to the old system. The unspoken reality seems to be that many charter schools, by their very nature, are more independent and affluent. While this is not inherently bad, it certainly lends itself towards more of the same with respect to a quality education being dependent on the wealth of a community. Whether the wealth comes from property taxes or private donations, the end result is the same. Students from wealthier communities receive a good education, while students from poorer communities lag behind.
Do charter schools take much needed money from the public school system?
Charter schools are public schools. They are not allowed to charge tuition. Charter schools must accept students on a first come, first serve basis. Due to their popularity, some states have implemented a lottery system. When a child leaves the public school system and begins attending a charter school, the money allocated for that child's education follows them to the the charter school. At first glance, this seems in direct conflict with the fact that charter schools receive on average 39% less funding than public schools. However, the difference lies in the fact that charter schools have more autonomy than public schools with respect to many federal rules and regulations. Charter schools are not required to devote as much funding towards special education, student support services, transportation, or nutrition. In addition, charter schools, unlike public schools, are able to seek additional funding from private donations, grants, and foundations.Why Choose a Charter School?
Teachers and students choose the school. The school doesn't have as many rules and regulations as a public school. Students and teachers help make the decisions towards their education process. In order to keep their charter, they must uphold the standards set by the sponsors.1. Increase opportunities for learning and access to quality education for all students
2.Create choice for parents and students within the public school system
3. Provide a system of accountability for results in public education
4. Encourage innovative teaching practices
5. Create new professional opportunities for teachers
6. Encourage community and parent involvement in public education
7. Leverage improved public education broadly
public schools since they tend to be smaller and free from regulations. Charter schools have access to federal funds and other revenue sources.
Information compiled by: Bill Adams, Elizabeth Geller, TaNika Roberts, and Bill Somerall